Jessica Andersen (1) (1973–)

Magic Unchained
3.5 Stars

As the end date approaches, the Nightkeepers and the Winikin must join forces to fight those who would bring about hell on earth. Unfortunately, the conflicts between the two groups threaten to undermine their efforts. Winikin leader, Cara Liu, is caught between her loyalty to her fellow fighters and her love for Nightkeeper, Coyote ‘Sven’ Seven, the only man she has always wanted but never been allowed to have.

The world building and research into Mayan lore in show more this penultimate installment of Andersen’s Final Prophecy series is excellent as always. Unfortunately, Cara and Sven’s romance, which I had eagerly been awaiting since the first book, isn’t as captivating as it could have been.

Cara and Sven’s chemistry is good, but their personal conflict overshadows the challenges posed by the factions that actively conspire against the Nightkeepers. They are constantly coming together only to push each other away out of wariness, distrust and fear. It takes too long for them to get over their angst and work together.

That said, there are some truly excellent moments when the Winikin and the Nightkeepers demonstrate exactly why they are the groups chosen to protect humanity against the demons that threaten the world. And there is a very interesting twist at the end, which should make the next book very exciting.

There are also developments in Rabbit and Myrinne’s relationship as their book is the finale of the series. While Rabbit with his morally ambiguous abilities and tortured relationship with his father has always been a favorite of mine, Myrinne has never appealed to me as a heroine. Consequently, I’m conflicted about reading their book and am not getting my hopes up too high. Only time will tell… show less

Storm Kissed
4.5 Stars

The second of the Triad Mages, Snake (Dez) Mendez, a former gang leader and convicted criminal, has carved a place for himself with the Nightkeepers. But now, a threat from his past has resurfaced and places everything he has worked for in jeopardy. Reese Montana, the bounty hunter responsible for Dez’s original incarceration is recruited by the Nightkeepers to locate Dez after he disappears, only to discover that the real trouble has only just begun and the threat to show more Dez may just destroy the Nightkeepers before the end time even arrives . . .

Series note: It is crucial that the books be read in order otherwise readers will miss out on important backstory and important detail on recurring characters. I also recommend reading the glossary of terms at the back of the book first, as this will keep the events of previous books fresh and aid in understanding the story.

Storm Kissed is one of the better installments in a series that has such tremendous potential, but only occasionally hits the mark.

Once again, Andersen’s research is impeccable and the details on Mayan, Aztec and Native American lore add additional nuance to the action packed quest plot line. It is fun keeping track of the symbolism inherent in Dez and Reese’s search for the compass artifacts.

Dez and Reese’s are one of the more appealing pairs in the series and their romance is gripping from the start. Dez is an ambiguous hero with many secrets, but a real desire to transform himself and make amends for his past actions. Reese is strong, fierce and loyal although she does tend to overthink things and ignores her gut instincts, especially when it comes to Dez’s motivations. Their chemistry is riveting and their emotional attachment believable.

There are significant developments in the ongoing story arc and the twists and turns in the tale make for compelling reading. It seems that the Nightkeepers and their Winikin are moving in a new and interesting direction, and I am looking forward to Sven and Cara’s book next. show less

I've always been baffled by books that are put out with spoilers in the blurbs – like mysteries telling who the victim in chapter 5 is going to be – or even in the jacket art. Putting one in the title, though, is even dumber than having a title which actually means little to the story (thinking of Across the Nightingale Floor here). On page 172 of Lord of the Wolfyn (about which title I wondered, since the main character is many things but not Lord of the Wolfyn), something happened show more which made my eyes flick up to the title, and I thought "Ah. Well, I know how that's going to come out, now, don't I." At which point I rolled my eyes and skimmed for awhile.

Apart from that, it was an, I think, above average paranormal romance (PNR), though surprisingly undersexed if anything. That is not, I should add, a complaint. It has an interesting premise, and interesting worldbuilding – I actually love and am intrigued by the concept of the three worlds linking, intrigued enough that I may one day seek out the other book in the series (one for each sibling – this was #3). Each seems to be a take on a different fairy tale, this one being Red Riding Hood.

It has a cop (or former cop) for the female main character, which is not so successful: I don't buy it. She's one of the tiny-and-damaged breed of romance heroine, and I simply don't believe that the character as presented would have met either the physical or mental health requirements for the job even before the incident that damaged her further. In the story she is a former cop because of a terrible incident in which she froze in the middle of a crisis and cost a life (and, incidentally, let a criminal get away), and that for me doesn't make it easy to either warm up to her (she shouldn't have been on the job in the first place) or believe in the near-miraculous turn-around she undergoes when her new beloved needs her.

There are three worlds: ours, the dull world of science and no magic; Dayn's, the one with magic and no science; and the wolfyn world, with borrowings from both. Dayn was a "guest" in the halfway world for 20 years, and picked up some earth-y slang. However, throughout the book there are references to "another fitting human saying" (that one was "Damnation" – which I suppose he shouldn't even understand the meaning of) or "a particularly fitting human idiom". Yet shortly after these there's a mention of "the deer-in-the-headlights freeze" … considering the man's never, unless I'm very much mistaken, seen a car, that's careless. I don't even want to get into "bad fur day" or "You're it for me". *shudder*

It was cute. I used it as a diversion from a larger, denser, more difficult book, and it sufficed. It was, as I said, a great over-arching idea, another one (rather like Alchemy of Desire) which I can only wish had been written as a straight fantasy, without the concentration on mating rituals. But it is what it is, and it's adequate for its intended purpose. show less

The third in the Royal House of Shadows series has thus far been my favorite by a wide margin. Steady to form, the third book centers on a third scion of the House of Elden: time time the tale is that of the Forestal/vampire/wolfyn Dayn by a new, fresh author. I hadn't read anything by this author or the previous one (Jill Monroe) and I can say I'd be interested in another book from this one, just judging by Lord of the Wolfyn. Andersen does a more-than-admirable job of selling her show more individual retelling of Red Riding Hood using a formulaic romance novel outline and hampered by an obviously limited length. The rebellious, headstrong son is the only male protagonist thus far in this series to really catch my interest - Dayn's brother Nicolai and brother-in-law (? I'm assuming/paraphrasing) Osborn from the first two didn't do it for me with their passive-aggressive and will-I-won't-I-kill-you attitudes, respectively - and I have Ms. Andersen to thank. Some basic elements still need fleshing out - are there realms: human, wolfyn, Elden. . but what about the Abyss? The Always? - but hopefully the fourth will include more details.

On the whole, I was way more than impressed with the style, voice and story in this third volume. I did find the time-limit to find the Blood Sorcerer a bit off, in the general scheme of the four book series - surely it could've been introduced earlier, as a more natural progression of the storyline rather than a random acceleratant? - but I appreciated the added tension to the atmosphere of the story. I liked the differing views of the realms (human, wolfyn, Elden) - knowledge of this "world" is uncovered more with each successive tale, with each author leaving an individual style and flair.

Dayn is a thrice-natured man (as he points out in his discussions with Reda, he is a man, just more so.) But even so, he's an obviously conflicted one - ashamed of his wolfyn-acquired powers, fearful of showing his vampiric nature and unsteady as just a regular human - and even more appealing for his confusion. [Just an FYI: A wolfyn is basically a werewolf shifter with distinctive red and gold markings and an unavoidable enthrallment to human women.] Compound that with the deadly allure of vampires, and Dayn is a hard man/character to top in abilities/attractiveness. With his guilt issues (he was away on a fit of pique when his parents died), inner conflict and isolation so easy to understand and empathize with, it's no wonder I found Dayn a more well-rounded person than previous male characters. He's not all anger or negative emotion 24/7; he experiences grief and darker emotions, but he doesn't kill all the lighter moments in his life. He's just so controlled a la Christian Bale (c'mon imagine all that [[focus]] right on you.. oooo) I find it sexy and I don't find many vampires sexy. I also appreciated the differences between Dayn and his brother Nicolai: not only in personality but abilities and powers.

Alfreda "Reda" is also the first female character I've really invested in so far this series. They even brought a smile to my face at their inevitable, predictable, sweet interactions. I identified with her much more than the two previous girls, even though some of her attitudes wore on my nerves (I really dislike the "it's all a dream"/hallucinations ploy of denial for characters.) Like Dayn Reda suffers from guilt and massive amounts of self-doubt over deaths of loved ones - that's a hard bond to shake and understandable for two characters trying to rebuild. She's also delightfully bitchy without overdoing it, vulnerable and searching for a one-of-a-kind book named Rutakoppchen from her childhood -- one that leads her to wolfyn realm and naturally to Dayn.

Let's talk about Reda and Dayn together. Finally! a couple I genuinely liked - both individually and even more for each other. They were genuinely good together and good for each other. Unlike Jane and Nicolai, Breena and Obsborn where the women are obviously the protected and the men the protectors, it's more a partnership of equals with Dayn and Reda. Reda even saves Dayn's bacon on numerous occasions, and though he returns the favor he never credits her with less bravery/skills than himself.

"'He'll have a good second in command,' she returned.
'So will I.' His lips turned up as glanced over at her. 'Or am I your second? I'm never sure.'
'We can trade off......'

It didn't feel like a random pairing of types (outdoorsy woodsmen Prince + fiery petite independent woman) but a real, nurtured relationship. By far the most original -- and best! -- sex scenes occur in this novel out of the entire three books. They also felt like a natural evolution of the affection between the two, rather than scenes tossed out to keep a reader interested. Similarly their predictable/eventual intense conflictdid not come across as trite or contrive but as appropriate for the events happening, to put it in the vaguest of terms. I never wasn't interested: besides the chemistry, the ups and downs of Reda and Dayn there were creatures and villains aplenty to keep the pages turning with alacrity. An evil woods witch as amusingly creepy as she is dangerous keeps the two lovebirds on their toes in the absence of the immediate presence of the Blood Sorcerer they race toward. I also loved the addition of a dragon (who doesn't like dragons? You're lying if you say you don't) Feiynd - and the accompying fight was particularly excellent.

I'll admit to feeling slightly underwhelmed by the first two that this series had to offer - obviously not so here with Lord of the Wolfyn. Each book is obviously edited/written to a specific length and it works better for some authors than others, and though I appreciate the variety of voices and styles this was the first to my taste entirely. I had read a book by Gena Showalter before Lord of the Vampires (it was titled Catch a Mate, a cute if generic chick lit) and felt the lack in her first effort. Lord of Rage also failed to engage me (Breena just wasn't a character I'd ever relate to... and Osborn though possessing certain admirable/attractive qualities just wasn't for me) and with a somewhat truncated feel to the conclusion. Not so for Lord of the Wolfyn: a male lead I genuinely like (and like like), a fulfilling and satisfying conclusion, and all within the stated 281 page limit.

I seem to be in the minority with my high enjoyment level of this novel, and specifically the ending. I absolutely LOVED the ending - I think I even laughed out loud - but the complaints that Lord of the Wolfyn 'failed to set up the fourth book' confuse me. As I understand it, each author has 281 pages to build their own general story of survival and avenging prince/sses as readable standalones in a series. No one "set up" book two, nor book three. It wasn't Ms. Andersen's job to start Ms. Singh's concluding volume - it was her job to sell a sexed up Red Riding Hood with hot men and can-do woman and she did. And it's only $4.11 for your Nook! show less